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Home My WebLink AboutCM Climate Change Action Plan Report 2015CITY of Agenda Item No: 5. a Meeting Date: February 17, 2015 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: CITY MANAGER Prepared by: Cory Bytof, Sustainability and Volunteer Program Coordinator City Manager Approval �`�'" SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN AND PROPOSED 2015 CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY PRIORITIES RECOMMENDATION: Accept informational report BACKGROUND: The San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), adopted by the City Council in 2009 and subsequently incorporated into the City's General Plan in 2011, is the guiding document for the sustainability program. It was developed through extensive public input via a seventeen - member `Green Ribbon Committee', co-chaired by then Planning Commissioner Kate Colin and local business owner Jennifer Islas. Dozens of individuals, businesses, and organizational representatives took part in the process, which was developed over a ten-month period. Subsequent to the adoption of the CCAP by the City Council, the City has hosted quarterly community forums to provide updates on implementation. A City Council Sustainability Subcommittee was formed in January 2012 by Mayor Phillips and Councilmember Connolly with the purpose of reviewing and considering progress and priorities in the implementation of the CCAP. Councilmember Colin replaced Mayor Phillips on the Subcommittee in 2013. This year the Subcommittee was replaced with a Liaison structure, owing to the fact that the Climate Action Plan implementation has become firmly established as a part of the City's daily operations. Councilmember Colin is the City Council Liaison to the sustainability program and CCAP quarterly implementation forums. The Sustainability Liaison meets quarterly with primary staff involved with implementing the CCAP as well as the president of Sustainable San Rafael, with additional meetings as needed to address specific initiatives of high importance. For instance, in 2014 the then Subcommittee convened additional meetings about the refuse hauler rate structure study with Marin Sanitary Service (MSS), the single use bag ordinance, and a water conservation pilot program. The FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: -� �1 %2c� �s e—i � g _ ---- _ g, Council Meeting: / 1-71.2 t) Disposition: C�I� SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 Liaison also chairs quarterly public CCAP implementation forums, comprised of staff and interested members of the community. The Liaison's role is critical in helping staff prioritize requests from the public and in shaping projects and programs for City Council action. ANALYSIS: The CCAP sets out goals and implementation strategies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with State objectives vis-a-vis AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. The target reductions in our CCAP require a 25% reduction of 2005 emissions by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050. The Sustainability Liaison provides guidance and support to the City's sustainability programs and activities by helping set agendas for community meetings and reviewing and setting priorities for work projects. The proposed 2015 priorities for the sustainability program are shown in Attachment A. Projects are prioritized as low, medium or high taking into account past accomplishments, community input, and available resources and staffing. The high priorities identified by the Liaison with input from community members and staff continue several GHG reduction efforts that were started in 2014 and identify some new efforts as well, particularly in the area of climate change adaptation. For example, one of the high priorities this year is to develop a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with the Office of Emergency Services in order to participate in a county -wide climate vulnerability assessment. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The structure of the sustainability program includes regular and frequent community engagement, including: - Meeting with President of Sustainable San Rafael on a quarterly basis to review priorities and set agendas for quarterly CCAP implementation update meetings - Hosting quarterly public CCAP implementation update meetings, which are attended by members of the public and various community groups and agencies - Sending updates and requests for input several times each year through email to any member of the public who wishes to receive them - Convening project specific working groups comprised of interested members of the public, such as the MSS rate structure working group that met several times in 2014 - Engaging community members as volunteers in sustainability projects RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Accept report. FISCAL IMPACT: No new funding is being proposed. Each item in the priority list has its own fiscal impact and would either be supported by General Fund expenditures allocated in department budgets or through grant seeking or other sources. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: Proposed 2015 San Rafael Sustainability Program Priorities ATTACHMENT A San Rafael Sustainability Program Priorities for 2015 February 2015 San Rafael's Climate Change Action Plan is organized by: • Our Lifestyles—transit-oriented development, non -auto, energy efficient vehicles, waste reduction • Our Buildings — resource & energy conservation, renewable energy, water conservation • Our Environment— urban forestry, local food, habitat protection, adaptation to climate change • Our Economy—green businesses, social equity Our Lifestyles 2014 Accomplishments • Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) Refuse Rate Structure Pilot, recommendations completed & presented to Council • Single Use Bag Ordinance adopted by Council • SMART updates presented at Council meetings MSS progressing with Food to Energy Program with 78 accounts diverting 1105 tons in 2014 2015 Goals: • High priority MSS refuse rate structure: implement changes in bill format, messaging, bundle for residential, new recycling cart fees, per -gallon analysis, and investigate cost/timing for new billing system • High priority Continue to support efforts of Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and assist with implementation of Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan • High priority Support efforts to enhance bicycle/pedestrian interface with SMART rail stations • Medium Single use bag ordinance expansion: consider to all retailers, restaurants, and 25c fee • Medium Support full implementation of commercial Food to Energy (F2E) program • Low Investigate potential for reuse facilities for domestic materials and construction materials similar to East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, Urban Ore, and The Away Station • Low Support/implement bike share program in conjunction with Transportation Authority of Marin Our Buildings 2014 Accomplishments: • Completed all legal, contractual, and pre -installation work as Lead Agency for Solar SEED Project in 3 North Bay counties. • Developed Deep Green power analysis for City facilities and accounts • Council adopted Tier 1 of the Green Building Ordinance 2015 Goals: • High priority Complete construction of solar power systems on City facilities as part of Solar SEED Project • High priority Recommend to move some or all of city facilities and infrastructure to Deep Green power through the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget process • Low Investigate and make recommendations for inclusion of Energy Efficiency standards in our local Green Building ordinance Our Environment 2014 Accomplishments: • Completed SLR White Paper brought to Council February 2014 • Lead effort to include county -wide vulnerability assessment in Marin Climate Energy Partnership (MCEP) goals • Secured agreement with Bay Conservation and Development Corporation to update San Rafael's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with a climate overlay Adopted ordinance update regulations regarding parking lot landscape, electric vehicle charging, solar, water conservation, & permit process for backyard chickens and beekeeping ATTACHMENT A 2015 Goals: • High priority Develop Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with a climate overlay • High priority Work with County and MCEP to secure resources and develop a plan for a county -wide vulnerability assessment • Medium Conduct 10 year review of General Plan to apply a lens of sustainability Our Economy 2014 Accomplishments: • Supported continuation of Venture Greenhouse • Promoted Green Business Program, and secured Certification of City Hall • Continued to support Chamber Green Business Committee and programs 2015 Goals: • Medium Promote Green Business Program, including certifying an additional 1-2 City facilities • Low Continue Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District participation and collaboration Community Outreach and Empowerment 2014 Accomplishments • Resilient Neighborhoods support (ongoing) • CCAP Quarterly meetings (ongoing) • City Green Team and Employee Commute Program (ongoing) • Staff on steering committee for Marin Climate Energy Partnership (ongoing) 2015 Goals • High priority Implement community -wide Water Conservation engagement program • High priority Support Resilient Neighborhoods program, and assist in developing funding and other support • Medium CCAP Quarterly meetings (ongoing) • Medium City Green Team and Employee Commute Program • Medium Participate in Marin Climate Energy Partnership in leadership capacity • Medium Apply for Gold Level Beacon Award for Sustainability Monitoring ?nl,; Gnala High Priority Conduct review and report to Council on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Medium Prepare for data collection for 2015 Greenhouse Gas Inventory with MCEP Summary of 2015 High Priority Goals • High priority MSS refuse rate structure: implement changes in bill format, messaging, bundle for residential, new recycling cart fees, per -gallon analysis, and investigate cost/timing for new billing system • High priority Continue to support efforts of Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and assist with implementation of Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan • High priority Support efforts to enhance bicycle/pedestrian interface with SMART rail stations • High priority Complete construction of solar power systems on City facilities as part of Solar SEED Project • High priority Recommend to move some or all of city facilities and infrastructure to Deep Green power • through the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget process • High priority Develop Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with a climate overlay • High priority Work with County and MCEP to secure resources and develop a plan for a county -wide vulnerability assessment • High priority Implement community -wide Water Conservation engagement program • High priority Support Resilient Neighborhoods program, and assist in developing funding and other support • High Priority Conduct review and report to Council on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy